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Frequently Asked Questions

About

What is the Talos Fellowship?

The Talos Fellowship is an 8-month programme for early-career policy makers intent on improving the world. The goal of this fellowship is to prepare a new generation of European policy makers with expertise in emerging technology, especially artificial intelligence.

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How long is the fellowship?
The length of the fellowship varies depending on which track fellows are selected for:

  • Training Track: ~3 months, part-time.

  • Placement Track: ~7 months. This includes 3 months of part-time participation alongside the training track and a 4-6 month full-time in-person placement at a host institution.
     

Dates for the Spring 2025 Cohort are: 

  • January 29 - March 19: EU AI Policy Fundamentals Programme (online, 5-10h/week)

  • March 22 - March 28: Brussels Summit (in-person, full-time)

  • April - September: in-person Placement at Partner Organisation, likely in Brussels (for placement track fellows)

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Applications for the Spring Cohort 2025 have now closed. Sign up at the bottom of the page to receive updates.

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When will the fellowship start?
The fellowship runs twice per year. The Spring cohort starts annually in January. The Fall cohort starts annually in July.
 
Is the fellowship paid?
Fellows on the placement track receive a monthly stipend during their placement. Fellows on the training track may apply for a needs-based 1-2 month stipend to enable them to focus on career exploration. 

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What is the difference between the two tracks?

The Talos Fellowship contains two tracks: a training track and a placement track. Fellows must indicate which track(s) they are interested in applying for at the application stage.

  • Training track: Fellows on this track participate in an 8-week course EU AI Policy Fundamentals Programme, attend a week-long policymaking summit in Brussels, and receive personalised support to launch a career in tech policy.

  • Placement track: Fellows on this track participate in an 8-week course EU AI Policy Fundamentals Programme, attend a week-long policymaking summit in Brussels, and then complete a 4-6 month placement at a European think tank.

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Is the fellowship full time?
The fellowships is a combination of part-time and full-time commitments.

  • The EU AI Policy Fundamentals Programme is an 8-week programme which can be completed part-time with a time commitment of up to 10 hours per week.

  • The Brussels Summit is a week-long policymaking training. This is a full-time commitment and all fellows are expected to attend.

  • For placement track fellows, the 4-6 month placement is a full-time commitment.

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Is the fellowship remote?
The fellowships is a combination of in-person and remote components.

  • The EU AI Policy Fundamentals Programme is hosted remotely.

  • The Brussels Summit is hosted in-person.

  • We strive for all placements to be completed in person, typically in Brussels. We will consider remote arrangements in exceptional circumstances.

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Will costs be covered for the Brussels Summit?
Yes. All travel, accommodation, breakfast and lunch costs will be fully covered.

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Will I get to know the other Fellows?
Yes. In addition to the Brussels weeks, you will interact with your cohort on a weekly basis during the EU AI Policy Fundamentals Programme. Fellows will attend interactive learning sessions, speaker events and may also work together on assignments. During the placement months, all fellows are invited to meet on a monthly basis in Brussels. We also we facilitate ongoing contact with past and future cohorts of EU Tech Policy Fellows.
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Will I attend professional conferences?
We encourage fellows to attend professional conferences during the year, such as the Politico Tech Summit, European Forum Alpbach and more.

 

Why are you favouring the EU and EU citizens?
The goal of this programme is to build up a strong network of EU policymakers working on emerging tech.We have a strong preference for candidates with EU citizenship since many of the most important roles in EU institutions are only open to EU citizens. However, exceptional candidates who are not EU citizens but possess significant relevant experience (at least 3 years) may be considered. 
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Who is funding the Talos Fellowship?
The fellowship has received support from Open Philanthropy, EA Funds, and a number of independent donors. The Talos Fellowship accepts general financial contributions of any amount. If you’d like to help support our work, you can make a gift here or get in touch.

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How many fellows do you plan to have in the cohort?

We aim to have 15 to 25 people in each cohort.

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What do you do to support diversity in tech policy?

We strive to recruit a cohort from a diversity of backgrounds. We recognise the unique challenges that people from underrepresented backgrounds face in fields such as this. We strongly encourage individuals from these groups to apply, and we will work hard to ensure they match with a suitable host organization and receive tailored mentorship and support that will enable them to succeed in their fellowship. All work samples are graded blind and we consider the composition of the entire cohort when selecting fellows.

Placements

Where could I be placed?
All placements are at well-respected and prestigious think tanks active in EU tech policy. Examples include the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) and The Future Society (TFS).​

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Can I find my own placement?

Yes, we are open to fellows interested in arranging their own placements, provided they fit with the intentions of the programme. This is not necessary as we have a number of partner institutions interested in hosting fellows.

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​How do I know that the placement will be beneficial for my career and not just a junior “coffee-run” role?

We have agreed with all placement institutions that fellows will work on relevant and interesting topics. We strive to provide fellows with useful experience to advance their careers in this area. To ensure a good fit during placements, we are in touch with past fellows and host organisations about their experiences on a regular basis. 

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Will I officially be an employee?

Our goal is to have fellows onboarded as official employees of the placement organization. However, if this isn't always possible due to legal or administrative constraints, and we work closely with fellows to find a tailored solution that meets their needs.

 

When do I receive the stipend? 

Stipends will be received at the end of each month during the placement. Different payment intervals are possible.

 

Can the placements turn into real jobs?

Many previous fellows have been hired by their host institutions, however, completing a placement does not require the host organisation to offer a job opportunity. It depends on the fit, on whether or not the host organisation is impressed and whether or not they have the capacity or need to take the fellow on. Besides that, placements offer you a network and valuable career paths for work within EU institutions.

Apply

When do applications open for the fellowship?

Applications for the Spring Cohort are now closed. Applications for the Fall Cohort open in July. You can sign up at the bottom of this page to get notified.

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When will I hear back about my application?

All applicants should expect to hear whether they have progressed to the second stage of the application process within ten days of the application deadline.

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When will I know if I've been accepted?
Fellows in the Spring Cohort will be chosen in December. Fellows in the Summer Cohort will be chosen in June.

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Is there an age limit for the fellowship?

There is no age limit for applying.

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I'm based in ______, can I apply?

Your current location does not matter, as long as you:

  • Would be open moving to Brussels or your national capital for tech policy work

  • Have EU-citizenship

EU residents without EU citizenship will be considered if they have extensive experience, such as several years of AI lab experience or 5-10+ years of policy/lobby experience in the UK or US.

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Do I need to have a specific degree to apply?

We expect you to at least have an undergraduate degree. We are open to applicants from any discipline but are particularly interested in applicants with a background in computer science, public policy, or European Law.

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Can I apply if I'm still at university?

We're open to accepting fellows who are still studying and expect to graduate within 6 months of finishing the Talos Fellowship. However, we prefer candidates that have finished university and are prepared to start working full time once the programme ends. 

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What if I'm not sure a career in tech policy is right for me?  

We aim to help people who are unsure decide whether or not they want to pursue a career in tech policy. We will encourage you to look at a broad range of options and to test your fit where possible. You don’t have to be certain that a career in tech policy is the right fit for you, you just need to be confident that it’s worth robustly exploring this path.

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How can I prepare for the test task and interview?

We suggest prospective applicants focus on developing their understanding of EU institutions, emerging technology, and AI governance.

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How are applications processed? Who will view my application? 

Applications will be visible to the members of the Talos Fellowship team and may in some cases be shared with a very limited number of advisors. With your permission we may also share it with your host organization for their assessment. 

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